Our Flathead City-County Health Department reports a jump in cases of Whooping cough in the past 3-months. County Population Health Manager Lisa Dennison tells us they confirmed 11-cases of pertussis in November and 6-in December…and that’s just the number of cases reported. It’s likely there are many more, and that’s enough to call it an outbreak, she says.
As an infection affecting the airways, Pertussis easily spreads through coughing, sneezing and airborne particles. It presents as cold symptoms, a cough that gets worse in a few weeks and can last for weeks.
Logan Health Pediatrician Dr Ken Graham, appearing on the KGEZ Good Morning Show, expressed his concern about the lack of vaccinations in the Valley…especially in the schools. In order to bring-about herd-immunity, we need to see upwards of 95% of the populations vaccinated. He laments that our area is far from that.
